Lubricator



A. FEUCHT LUBRI CATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1944 I 19 FIG! INVENTOR. ALBERT rzucm' ATTORNEY April 6,1948,

. Patented Apr. 6, 1948 LUBRICATOR Albert Feucht, Garfield Heights, Ohio, assignor,

by memo assignments, to Le Roi Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 31, 1944, Serial No. 520,461

, 1 The present invention relates to devices for supplying liquid to an air or other compressible fluid line and, more particularly, to improvements in lubricators of the type adapted to be attached to the supply line of a fluid actuated tool or mechanism and supply lubricant to the fluid passing therethrough so that it may be conveyed thereby to the movable parts of the tool.

In prior art devices, the most advantageous construction employed for supplying lubricant to .a rock drill or other pneumatically operated tool included the use of a fabric member to feed by capillary attraction the lubricant from the reservoir to the air line. The fabric member and.

'7 Claims. (01. 184-55) its capillary feeding characteristics made it pos-,

sible to supply the lubricant regardless of the position assumed by the reservoir of the lubricator. However, use of such fabric members is objectionable due to the diiferent types of lubricants employed throughout different parts of the country some of which have a tendency to clog the fabric with the result that the tool is improperly lubricated.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a novel and improved lubricator constructed in such a manner that a supply of lubricant will flow from the reservoir and commingle with the pressure fluid flowing to the drill or other tool regardless of the position assumed by the reservoir or the type of lubricant employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved lubricator or like device having the above characteristics which does not rely upon a fabric member and capillary attraction for supplying the lubricant to the pressure fluid in the line.

Another object of the invention isto provide a novel and improved lubricator or device of the character referred to in which the parts thereof are readily accessible for adjustment, inspection, and repair.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing reside in the specific construction and aggroupme'nt of the elements peculiar to this structure, as will become apparent from a more complete examination of this specification.

In the drawing which illustrates the invention:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lubricator embodying the features of the present invention. I t

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially On line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts in another position.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof, the lubricator generally designated by the reference numeral 8 is shown to include a tubular shaped double-walled casing having a central opening therethrough and comprising a pair of opposed casing sections '9 and II), which are preferably threaded as indicated at H to permit the same to be conveniently l3, respectively, said nipples being interiorly threaded as indicated at M and I5 for attaching the casing in the air line. As is to be understood,

in lubrieators of this character the casing is attached in the line and is spaced a slight distance from the roclg drill or other pneumatically operated tool, one end of the line being connected, for example, with the nipple l3 while the line leading from the lubricator to the tool is connected to the casing through the nipple l2. It is to be understood, however, that the device will function efllciently regardless of the position it assumes in the line.

Formed as an integral Part of the casing section 9 and extending inwardly thereof is a tube l6, said tube, when the sections are united as indicated in Fi 1, extending within the section In and forming the inner wall of the casing. The area within the outer wall of the casing and surrounding the tube l6 forms a reservoir H for the lubricant which is supplied thereto through the opening it closed by means of the filler plug IS. The tube I6 is formed with a central bore 20 in axial alignment with the. bores 2| and 22 leading from the nipples l2 and I3, respectively, whereby a conduit or central opening through the casing is provided for the pressure fluid used for operating the rock drill or other pneumatically operated tool.

The bore 2| communicates with a passageway 23 which extends transversely of the section 9, said passageway in turn communicating with the bore 20. Positioned within the passageway 23 there is a nozzle 24 which forms, in part a means whereby pressur fluid is conveyed into the reservoir I! to exert a pressure on the lubricant therein. The upper end of the nozzle 24 is shaped to receive a valve plug 25 passageway 26 communicating with a vertical mounted within the nozzle, access thereto being provided through the plug 28. Upon removal 9 of said plug 28, a screw driver or similar tool can b positioned-within a slot 29 in the top of the valve 25 to rotate the same for altering the position of the passageway 26 with respect to a passage 30, to be referred to presently, to control the amount of lubricant fed therethrough to the tool as is readily apparent from an inspection of Fig. 3 of the drawings. An eccentric groove 26' in the exterior of the valve 25 and having its greatest depth adjacent to the passageway 26, see Fig. 3, provides an extremely delicate or fine adiustment for controlling the amount of lubricant fed into the passageway 23.

The casing 8 including the tube i6 is formed with longitudinally extending passages 30 and 3i, lubricant being conveyed through the passage 90 and pressure fluid through the passage iii. The passage 33 communicates with the passageway 26 while the passage 3i communicates with a counterbore 32 positioned beneath the nozzle 24. The nozzle 24 is formed with a pair of diverging passages 33 leading into a vertical passage 34, the latter communicating with the bore 32. Pressure fluid entering the bore 2!] through the nipple i3 will travel around the nozzle and through the bore 2i to the tool. However, a portion of the fluid will travel through the passages 33, 34, and into the bore 32 from where it is conveyed into the passage 3i and into the reservoir i'i through an annular groove 35, said groove communicating with the passage fit through the inlet 36, As will hereinafter appear, the lubricant within the reservoir I? being under pressure is fed to the tool through the annular groove 37 which communicates with the passage 3% through the inlet 38 and from the passage 30 is admitted into the passageway 23 through the passages 26, 27, and outlet openings 39, where it commingles with the pressure fluid flowing through the bore 20 to lubricate the moving parts of the tool.

For distributing the pressure fluid within the reservoir i1 and for conveying lubricant from the reservoir, there is provided a pendulum shaped member 39 loosely mounted on the tube it, said member being capable of rotary movement and longitudinal movement relative to said tube. Longitudinal movement of the member as is limited by its contact at one end with the flange 4% and at its other end with the flange 4 i the flange 40 forming a part of the inwardly extending portion 42 of the nipple i3 which receives the inner end of the tube l6, said tube being sealed therein as indicated at 43. ,The flange 44 forms a part of the tube, and its primary purpose is to provide a stop forlimiting longitudinal movement of the pendulum shaped member in one direction. The upper side that is, the side opposite from the center of gravity of the member 39 is formed with passages 44 and 45 which communi cate with the annular groove 35, said passages being extensions of the tubular shaped members 46 and 41 suitably held in the member 39 and extending in opposite directions within "the reservoir [1. The lower portion of the member 39 is formed with passages 48 and 49 which communicate with the annular groove 31, the passage 49 communicating with the tubular member 50, while the passage 48 communicates with the tubular member Members 50 and 5| are supported in the lower section of the'pendulum member and are provided with enlarged ends 52 protected by means of toraminous disks 53. As is understood, pressure fluid is discharged into in the lubricant irrespective of how the lubricator 9 may turn or roll.

With the device in the position shown in Fig. 1, the tubes 48 and 41 are above the level of the lubricant while the tubes 50 and, 5| are totally submerged. However, should the device be moved to a vertical or a nearly vertical position, one of the 'air tubes would be above the level of the lubricant, and that tube'would be in position to convey pressure fluid to the reservoir, and one of the tubes 50 or 5| would be submerged in the lubricant which tube would be in position to convey lubricant to the machine.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the member 39 is formed with a pair of openings 54 and 55, the opening 55 serving to convey lubricant around the tube it to facilitate movement of the member 39 and at the same time effect a seal between said member and the tube. By means oi the opening 54, any leakage of pressure fluid from the annular groove which would tend to travel along the periphery of the tube I6 will be discharged through the opening 54 into the reservoir, Should the Pressure fluid enter the annular groove 3? through the port 38, it would interfere with the travel of the lubricant through the passage 39, and it is to prevent this mixture of the pressure fluid with the lubricant that the opening 54 is provided.

With this construction, it will be evident that the pressure fluid to be supplied to the apparatus and conveyed by a hose line passes through the central opening of the casing comprising the nippies i2 and i 3 and the bore 20 of the sleeve It. If lubricant is in the reservoir l1 and the parts are as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, a portion of the pressure fluid will flow through the passages 33 and 34 into the bore 32 and from the bore through the passage 9i, inlet 36, and annular groove 35 into the passages 44 and 45 for discharge through the tubes 46 and 47, It will be seen that the annular groove 35 communicates with both passages 44 and 45 so that the pressure fluid will be discharged through each of the tubes 46 and 41- placing the lubricant within the reservoir i1 under pressure. As a consequence, lubricant will flow through the tubes 50 and SI, passages 48 and 49, into the annular groove 81 and into the passage 30 through the inlet 38. From the passage 39 the lubricant is conveyed to the passageway 26 of the valve 25 t e lubricator and is nowin contact with the 1 to be readily apparent that the position of these several parts will be reversed when the member 39 is in abutting relation with the flange 40',

From the foregoing, it is thought that the constructiOn, operatiomand many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description. The positioning 01' the lubricant pick-up tubes 50 and II makes the device operable to convey lubricant to the fluid passing through the central bore of the apparatus regardless of the position assumed by the device so long as there is a small quantity of lubricant in the res: ervoir. It is also possible to have the reservoir I! nearly filled with the liquid without danger of its overflowing into the air discharge tubes 46 and 41, or of its being forced into the pressure fluid through the passages 33 by expansion of the air in the reservoir l1 when the pressure is shut oil.- etc.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order to completely set forththe invention, it is to be under-.

stood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and it is to be further understood that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of structural detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a double-walled casing having a central opening therethrough and a liquid reservoir therein, a member supported for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of said central opening through said casing, said member having its center of gravity located to one side of its axis of rotation, conduit means in the inner wall of said casing and said member communicating with said central opening in said casing and with said liquid reservoir above the level of the liquid.

therein, a member located within said reservoir and encircling the inner wall of said casing, means for supporting said member for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of said central opening through said casing, said memmunicating with said central opening and with central opening and with said liquid reservoir below the level of the liquid therein for all positions of said casing. I

3. In a device of the character described, a

6 double-walled casing having a central opening therethrough and a liquid reservoir therein. a member sunp rtedfor rotation aboutan axis extending longitudinally of said central opening through said casing, said member having its center of gravity located to one side of itsaxis of rotation, conduit means in the inner "wall of said casing and said member communicating with said central opening andwlth opposite ends of said liquid reservoir at the side opposite to said center of gravity, conduit means in the inner wall of said casing and said member communicating with said central opening and opposite ends of said liquid reservoir at the same side as said center of gravity, and valve means automatically operable when said casing is rotated about an axis extending transversely of said central opening for closing the conduit means at the opposite side ofsaid center of gravity communicating with the lower end of said liquid reservoir and for closing the conduit means at the same side as said center of gravity communicating with the upper end of said liquid reservoir.

4. In a device of the character described, a double-walled casing having a central opening therethrough and a liquid reservoir therein. a member located within said reservoir and encircling the inner wail of said casing, means for supporting said member for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of said opening in said casing, said member having its center of gravity located to one side of its axis of rotation. conduit means in the inner wall of said casing and said member communicating with said central opening of said casing and opposite ends of said liquid reservoir at the side opposite to said center of gravity, conduit means in the inner wall of said casing and said member communicating with said central opening of said casing and opposite ends of said liquid reservoir at the same side as said center of gravity, and valve means automatically operable when said casing is rotated about an axis extending transversely of said central opening for closing the conduit means at the opposite side of said center of gravity communicating with the lower end of said liquid reservoir and for closing the conduit means at the same side as said center of gravity communicating with the upper end of said liquid reservoir.

5. In a device of the character described, a double-walled casing having a central opening therethr'ough and a liquid reservoir therein, a member supported for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of said central opening through said casing, said member having its center of gravity located to one side of its axis of rotation, conduit means in the'inner. wall of saidcasing and said member communicating with said central opening in said casing and with said liquid reservoir at the side opposite to said center of gravity and above the level of the liquid therein regardless of the position of said casing, separate conduit means in the inner wall of said casing and said member communicating with said I duit means.

6. In a device of the character described, a double-walled casing having a central opening therethrough and a liquid reservoir therein, a member encircling the inner wall or said casing and slidably and rotatably carried thereby, said member having its center of gravity located to one side of its axis of rotation, conduit means in the inner wall of said casing and said member communicating with said central opening and with opposite ends of said liquid reservoir at the side opposite to said center of gravity, and conduit means in the inner wall of said casing and said member communicating with said central opening and with opposite ends of said liquid reservoir at'the same side as said center of gravity, said conduit means being so constructed and arranged that movement 01' said member longitudinally of said casingincident to rotation of said casing about an axis extending transversely of the central opening therethrough automatically closes the conduit means at the opposite side of said center oi? gravit communicating with the lower end of said liquid reservoir and the conduit means at the same side as said I center of gravity communicating with the upper 8 center of gravity, conduit means in the inner wall of saidcasing and said member communicating with said central opening or said casing and with opposite ends or said liquid 1'8S81'V0l1 at the same side as said center of gravity, ant manually operable valve means comprising a member rotatably supported in said casing anc having a groove of varying depth therein adaptec to form a part of said last named conduit meam for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough. said conduit means being so constructed and arranged that movement of said member longitudinally 01' said casing incident to rotation of said casing about an axis extending transversely oi said central opening automatically closes the conduit means at the opposite side of said center of gravity communicating with the lower end of said liquid reservoir and the conduit means at the same side as said center of gravity communicating with the upper end of said liquid reservoir.

. ALBERT FEUCHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,643,069 Hansen Sept, 20, 1927 1,656,708 Hansen Jan. 17, 1928 1,665,497 Hansen Apr. 10, 1928 1,715,674 Peters June 4, 1929 1,907,465 Terry May 9, 1933 2,204,950 Rouse June 18, 1940 

